| 3 | Rangers | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 22 |
| 4 | Dundee United | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 19 |
| 5 | Motherwell | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 19 |
| 6 | St Mirren | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | -5 | 15 |
| 7 | Dundee | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -6 | 12 |
Stuart Kettlewell was pleased that his side put in a strong performance against Livingston in the cinch Premiership last weekend, but insists his team need to approach the Ross County match with the same, professional mindset.
Despite safety being secured, Kettlewell has his eyes set on finishing 7th place and wants that to be a driving factor for the remaining games.
The roar of the crowd, the excitement as you step out of the tunnel and onto the hallowed Fir Park turf – here is your chance to Live the Dream as a Motherwell player for the day.
Today we launch an exclusive opportunity for fans to play on the pitch on the evening of Friday 24 May 2024, with all money raised going to The Well Society.
There are 32 places available, each giving you the chance to experience life as a professional footballer. Four of these places will be given free to fully paid up Well Society members who apply through a draw. The rest of the places will go on sale tonight on a first come, first-served basis.
To take part in the event you need to:
In return you will:
Buy your place here. The teams are open to all genders and abilities. There are 14 places available on each team, with prices ranging from £150 for the opportunity to come off the bench as an impact sub, to £200 for a place in the starting line up.
To be in with a chance for one of the free places you’ll need to be a current member of the Well Society. If you are not a member you can subscribe via this link (join by 5pm Tuesday 14 May). To get your name in the frame, email us with your details by midnight, Thursday 16 May. The draw for the places will take place at noon on Friday 17 May 2024.
Help us create a great atmosphere for the players and celebrate fan ownership by joining us for the big match on the night. Entry will be priced at £5 per person with all proceeds going to support the Club through The Well Society.
Callum Slattery made a bright start to the 2023/24 season. Beginning his third year at Fir Park, Slattery was at the heart of all things good during Motherwell’s Viaplay Cup campaign. He scored two and assisted three times in July.
That positive start to proceedings had the English midfielder full of optimism and confidence for the season that lay ahead. Fans would see the finished product on a Saturday but those goal involvements and positive performances were a result of hard work off the pitch and a full pre-season.
“It was probably the best I had felt in my career,” Slattery said.
“Just in terms of fitness, general performances and consistency, I was loving it. I was in a good place mentally and had added some goals to my game.
“I’d say I was on track for my best season in football.”
His man of the match displays continued into the league season, where he even won his first player of the month award at the club. But football can be a cruel sport. Slattery would be ruled out for the remainder of the campaign in January, after a tackle on the training ground.
“It was one of those nothing challenges,” he explained.
“The ball went into a group of bodies and my foot got caught in the ground. My upper body twisted but my foot remained planted. I knew I had done something serious as the pain was unbearable.
“I had a bad injury when I was young kid, maybe 15 or 16, but nothing in my professional career.
“When you’re younger, I don’t think it effects you as much. You’re still buzzing to be in and about the place but at this age, you do begin to realise how much being out on the pitch helps.
“Being out there makes your forget things. Not playing has a big impact.”
It was confirmed that Slattery would miss the rest of the season after this serious knee injury. Despite the 25-year-old having a fair idea this would be the case, having the news confirmed was still tough to hear.
The injury had prevented him from completing a season that had so much potential but even in the day-to-day aspect, everything changed.
“I arrive at the same time as the boys in the morning,” Slattery revealed.
“So, you kind of still get that feeling of coming in together, but I’m straight up the gym until lunchtime.
“I’ll do exercises to help improve the strength in my leg then I head back down for lunch where I get to see the boys for a bit before going back to the gym.
“All of the work is inside which is completely different mentally, it’s something you have to get through physically and mentally.”
It’s that battle that has the former Southampton midfielder taking a moment to reflect about the importance the sport has on his life.
“As players, you can take football for granted,” he added.
“You don’t realise how much of a part football plays in your life.
“You come in, go out to play, train, all these things and it becomes normal. You forget worries and concerns outside of football when you’re playing.
“I sat down on the couch the other day and thought how lucky I am and how much I do love football. When you’re playing, sometimes you have to deal with the lows and bad spells.
“But playing is such a luxury. Having that taken away for a period of time is tough. You now have a lot of time to think.”
This season, had this injury not have occurred, Slattery would have been on course to achieve 100 games for Motherwell, something he set out as a target early in the season. But just not completing the season is something that disappoints him as he wanted to see where things would have ended.
But now, the routine is different and the week has been altered and that is something he has had to adjust to.
“My worst day of the week is a Saturday,” the 25-year-old said.
“Saturday used to be the best. But I now have to come in and sit in the stands and just watch. There is nothing I can do to help the team.
“I’m really missing that feeling of walking out on the pitch.”
Despite all the disappointment and boredom of waiting, Slattery has his focus dialled in on his return to action.
“Having the surgery straight away was good,” he explained.
“It means my knee is fixed and that’s a step in the right direction. It’s just about building strength up in the knee and the fitness work around it, which is the long bit, that’s tough.
“I’m just going step by step to get back on the pitch. Each day, week and month, you can see progress.
“All the time, I try to picture myself in the moment of going back on the pitch and what it’ll be like. It’s far away just now which is the harsh reality, but I believe it’ll come round quick and I simply cannot wait.”
A Motherwell welcome was in store for 25 Lanarkshire-based asylum seekers, after the Well Society invited them to Saturday’s match.
The men – who have fled from countries such as Iran, Iraq and Syria – enjoyed a goal fest as the Steelmen cruised to a 4-1 victory over Livingston FC.
The Society worked alongside the East Kilbride Integration Network (EKin), a local group who welcome, support and help new migrants in the area make connections.
At a small pre-match reception the Society found out a bit more about their work, and got a flavour of what life has been like for those who have unexpectedly found themselves in Lanarkshire.
The Society were supported by the Club’s commercial department to host the visitors. Motherwell’s Commercial Director Suzanne Reid said: “Inclusion is what this Club and the community are about. Providing the opportunity for the group to come to a match and enjoy everything that goes with that was the least we could do.”
The Well Society’s Derek Watson said: “These men have had to flee their homes, leaving their families behind, thousands of miles away. They are effectively in limbo, worrying about what is happening back home.
“As part of our ongoing work to support the community, we wanted to give them an enjoyable day out at Fir Park. What struck me was that we were able to connect over a universal theme – football. I hope that coming along as our guests has given them a bright spot in an otherwise difficult situation.”
Simon Jeacocke, Co-Founder of EKin, said: “We have been incredibly humbled by the support of local sporting clubs who have welcomed East Kilbride Integration Network with open arms.
“It is vital that we welcome asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants into our community. Many in our area have fled violence and persecution, seeking safety and a fresh start. At Fir Park, time was taken by Motherwell FC to get to know each person we brought and although many different languages were spoken on the day, football brought us all together.
“EKin are dealing with people who arrived in Scotland at the worst time in their lives, often with no connection to the area, no language to communicate, no understanding of the systems and structures in our society, and only the shoes on their feet. The Well Society have role modelled inclusion beautifully by extending a hand, offering a touch of normality and welcoming these individuals to their club.”
Motherwell are on their final Saturday travels of the season, with the Steelmen due north to face Ross County in Dingwall.
Kick off is 3pm on Saturday 11 May.
You can buy tickets online now.
| Away Stand | |
| Adults | £28 |
| Concessions (Over 65s and 18-21) | £12 |
| Young Adults (Under 18) | £5 |
| Ambulant Disabled | £12 |
All ticket sales are online only, we will advise if we will be offering paper ticket sales on the day in due course, otherwise sales will be up until Kick Off.
If anyone requires a wheelchair space please ask them to call the club shop on 01349 860860.
If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.
Should you be in the UK, it will be commentary only.
We will be wearing our home kit for this match.
Harry Paton marked his return from injury on Saturday against Livingston.
Adam Devine remains a doubt for the match and will be assessed this week.
Jon Obika and Callum Slattery won’t be available. Jack Vale remains suspended.
Motherwell narrowed the gap to seventh place on Saturday, with a comfortable 4-1 win over Livingston. Theo Bair continued his astounding season, by netting a brace to take the Canadian to 15 goals.
Sam Nicholson was named in the starting 11, he made the most of the opportunity by scoring a screamer in the first half, with Dan Casey also scoring.
The result means Motherwell are guaranteed Premiership football next season, but also continues their fine run of form, with four wins and two draws in the last eight games.
The Steelmen are now on 40 points, with Aberdeen on 41 and Hibernian on 42.
Ross County are fighting to avoid the playoff spot, and are doing everything they can to do so.
A shock victory over title chasers Rangers two weeks ago, was then followed up by a disappointing defeat to Livingston. County bounced back on Saturday, taking all three points off Hibernian in a 2-1 win.
In doing so, they moved up to 10th in the league, two points ahead of St Johnstone in 11th.
It’s three wins and three defeats in their last six, with their last home defeat coming way back on 3 February against St Johnstone.
Simon Murray scored his 18th goal in all competitions on Saturday, as he continues to be the Staggies’ leading marksman.
The writing was on the wall for Livingston, but this match was significant for Motherwell, should they finish in 7th place this season.
A win would seal Motherwell’s place in the Premiership next season, and with that in mind, the Steelmen looked for an early lead.
Theo Bair would get the chance to score from the spot after Devlin handled the ball in the area, Bair slotted home to get the ball rolling. Given his chance from the start, Sam Nicholson rifled home right before the break with a goal of the season contender.
Bair made it 15 goals from the season when he got on the end of Georgie Gent’s cross, before Dan Casey made it 4-0 from a corner.
Joel Nouble scored a consolation goal that would have little say in the match. Motherwell’s result leaves them two points off 7th, with Livingston six year stay in the Premiership coming to a close.
The women of steel successfully preserved their SWPL status for a fifth consecutive season in emphatic style, retaining a formidable eight-game unbeaten run, with victories over Spartans, Hamilton, Dundee united and Montrose.
With only three games remaining, Motherwell are still within reach of nearest league rivals Aberdeen in the pursuit of concluding the season at the top of the split. Experienced defender Murron Cunningham understands that establishing our SWPL status for the forthcoming season has been pivotal to building momentum.
“Retaining our place in the league with over a month till the end of the season has been a real driving factor,” Cunningham explained.
“It’s hugely important to the players and the club. The risk of fighting to stay in this league could’ve hindered our vision to head in the right direction towards the top of the split.
“As a team, we value ourselves highly and know we can compete with the teams in the top-six. Securing a place in the SWPL next season was crucial and will continue to play a role in retaining the momentum for the remainder of the season.
“The atmosphere is good, as a team we have really demanded a standard from one another in training and games to compete at the best level we can. We have picked up good points recently and shown we are capable of competing with those teams around us.”
The women of steel’s remarkable run of form has accurately coincided with a monumental resurgence in the final third, with Paul Brownlie’s side netting 22-times across their last six domestic league encounters. Cunningham emphasised the importance of SWPL survival as a motivator for the squad.
“As a squad, we have had a lot of motivation these last few months,” Cunningham noted.
“The team have played with confidence recently and that may come down to the determination of securing a spot in the league for next season.
“That and the feeling of winning have been big driving factors for us as a team and I think it’s been clear to see that we have played recently with a real intent to be on the front foot and challenge teams.
“Having a run of eight games unbeaten is something that can be hard to do in football especially when you are playing against teams of similar ability and status. However, the changing point in our season so far was playing the top-three at K Park and coming close to a historic victory after putting in a respectable performance that gave us the confidence to continue to develop a consistent style of play.”
The 2023/24 SWPL campaign marked a long-awaited return to action for the experienced defender after facing an unimaginable two-year spell on the side-lines following a long-term injury.
“Returning from a long-term injury is something that is incredibly exciting at the start of the season,” Cunningham said.
“However, getting into the thick of the season, it can be difficult to adapt as quick as your team mates who have been playing consistently the season before. I would say it was a slow start for me and it definitely took time to find my feet, however I now feel I can contribute to the same standard as my team mates and I’m always ready for selection on game day when the opportunity comes.
“The unity in the squad really helped me through this process. When you have a unity within a team, you all have common goals you want to achieve. We have set high targets for the post-split fixtures and when everyone is together and working toward a shared target, we can all equally contribute to achieve the same goals.”
As the team approach the latter stages of the league campaign and have the top of the split firmly within their sights, Cunningham re-emphasised the importance of the Motherwell fans support in achieving this objective.
“The support means a lot to us all,” Cunningham emphasised.
“We have made K park our home and we appreciate everyone coming out every week to show their support to us as a team. We will do our best for the last few fixtures, and it would be a pleasure to have you all with us. Thanks for turning up this season to support us.”
Motherwell consolidated their narrow deficit to nearest league rivals Aberdeen, as the women of steel were forced to settle for a point in a frustrating afternoon at Links Park on Sunday.
The hosts broke the deadlock against the run of play following a succession of opportunities directed towards the Montrose goal, but almost instantly, Chelsie Watson netted the equaliser through a small dose of fortune, as the defenders looping headed effort ricocheted through a series of jerseys before eventually nestling into the bottom-right corner.
Motherwell continued to terrorise the hosts 18-yard box throughout the latter stages of the first-half and across the second 45-minutes, but a decisive second failed to materialise, as the Montrose backline stood resolute and held out for a solitary point.
Looking to replicate the exceptional midweek display over Spartans at K-Park, the visitors started firmly on the front foot, with the first goalscoring opportunity of the game falling to the feet of Laura Berry.
The Rangers-loanee skilfully worked her way to the edge of the Montrose penalty area, cutting across from the left-flank before curling a hopeful effort towards goal, but the young forward couldn’t trouble the Montrose stopper on this occasion.
Moments later, the hosts broke the deadlock with a swift counter-attack carving open the Motherwell backline. A hopeful long-ball left Brown racing through the centre of the Motherwell half before drilling a wayward effort that accurately changed direction at the last possible moment to land beyond the reach of the out-stretched Rebecca Cameron in the Motherwell goal.
Motherwell rallied in search of an immediate equaliser, and their efforts were soon rewarded from a well-worked set-piece. Katie Rice’s whipped corner-kick fell invitingly towards Cheslie Watson at the back-post, and the towering defenders headed effort across the face of goal bundled through numerous players before eventually picking out bottom-right corner.
The visitors resumed the second half on a similar note, with Morgan Cross forcing an exceptional save from a close-range header. Laura Berry, Jo Addie, Kayla Jardine and Brooke Nunn all had opportunities parried clear of the Montrose goal, but ultimately the women of steel couldn’t force through the decisive second goal and were left to settle for a point.
Motherwell mathematically secured their Premiership status for the forthcoming season after cruising to a convincing three-goal cushion over Livingston on Saturday afternoon, defeating the visitors 4-1 at Fir Park which confirmed the Lions’ relegation to the Championship.
Theo Bair placed an accurate penalty kick beyond Shamal George after a handball from Georgie gent’s whipped delivery from the left of the near post. A miraculous strike from distance soon doubled the Steelmen’s advantage, with Sam Nicholson rattling the crossbar before landing beyond the goal-line for his second goal in claret and amber.
The Canadian striker soon added his second of the game midway through the second-half, with Gent’s whipped delivery across the face of goal being met by Bair, who powered home a precise header at the back post. Dan Casey headed home a fourth in the latter stages of the game , with Joel Noble netting a consolation for the visitors a few minutes later.
Stuart Kettlewell made two changes from the defeat to Aberdeen at Pittodrie last weekend. Andy Halliday replaced Davor Zdravkovski in midfield whilst Sam Nicholson came in for the suspended Jack Vale to support lone striker Theo Bair.
After feeling aggrieved by a VAR decision to show Jack Vale a straight red card last weekend, the Fir Park men got the benefit of the doubt on this occasion.
Georgie Gent whipped a ball in from the left but as it struck Mickey Devlin, the Blackburn loanee immediately appealed for a spot kick. Referee David Munro wasn’t convinced but after checking with the trackside monitor he pointed to the penalty spot Bair stepped up and Molly slotted his penalty into the bottom-left corner.
Motherwell continued to flood the Livingston penalty area and doubled their advantage moments before the half-time whistle. Stephen O’Donnell drilled a low pass to Nicholson about 25 yards from goal. The former Hearts man took one touch before turning and unleashing a stunning drive which flew past George and into the net off the underside of the ‘keeper’s bar to round off a fine first half performance from the home side.
Motherwell were immediately on the attack from the restart and Bair’s hooked cross fell kindly across the edge of the penalty area, but Blair Spittal’s high volley sent the ball straight to the waiting ‘keeper. As the pressure on the visitors defence mounted, Halliday’s volley from outside the box flew just wide of the target.
With the final throw of the dice, Martindale made the last of three substitutions on the hour mark that resulted in a bit more pressure around the ‘Well box.
Five minutes later, Kettlewell aimed to counter that, bringing on Harry Paton and Zdravkovski.
And within two minutes, it was game over as ‘Well made it 3-0.
Once again, Gent sped down the left and when his cross emerged in the penalty box, it found Bair lingering in the six-yard box. A superb diving header powered the ball into the top corner and make it 15 for the season.
Dan Casey made it 4-0 after 74 minutes with a firm header, although it took another VAR check to overrule Livi’s claims for an infringement.
Almost straight from the delayed restart, the Lions grabbed a goal when Nouble’s looping header carried the ball over Kelly and in off the ‘keeper’s far post.
Nevertheless, the Steelmen comfortably held out in the final few moments to secure their SPFL status, with an assured 4-1 victory at Fir Park.
Stuart Kettlewell reacts to the 4-1 win over Livingston.
